Nazism

National Socialist philosophy came together during a time of crisis in Germany; the nation had lost World War I in 1918, but had also been forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles, a devastating capitulation, and was in the midst of a period of great economic depression and instability. The Dolchstosslegende (or "stab in the back"),[20] described by the National Socialists, featured a claim that the war effort was sabotaged internally, in large part by Germany's Jews. The National Socialists suggested that a lack of patriotism had led to Germany's defeat (for one, the front line was off of German soil at the time of the armistice). In politics, criticism was directed at the Social Democrats and the Weimar government (Deutsches Reich 1919-1933), which the National Socialists accused of selling out the country. The concept of Dolchstosslegende led many to look at Jews and other so-called "non-Germans"[citation needed] living in Germany as having extra-national loyalties, thereby raising antisemitic sentiments and the Judenfrage (German for the "Jewish Question"),[21] at a time when the VÐ"¶lkisch movement and a desire to create a Greater Germany were strong.

On January 5, 1919, the party that eventually became the Nazi Party was founded under the name German Workers' Party (DAP) by Anton Drexler, along with six other members.[22][23] German intelligence authorities sent Hitler, a corporal at the time, to investigate the German Workers' Party. As a result, party members invited him to join after he impressed them with the speaking ability he displayed while arguing with party members. Hitler joined the party in September 1919, and he became the propaganda boss.[23][24] The party was renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party on February 24, 1920,[23] against Hitler's choice of Social Revolutionary Party.[25][26] Hitler ousted Drexler and became the party leader on July 29, 1921.[26][23]

Although Adolf Hitler had joined the Nazi Party